Oak Ridge Today

Council unanimously approves $150,000 contract for Jackson Square work

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Jackson Square Revitalization

A concept plan by Benefield Richters of Knoxville for the $1 million revitalization of historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

After a brief discussion Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council unanimously agreed to award a $150,000 contract to a company that will help in the first phase of a $1 million project to redevelop Jackson Square, the city’s original town center.

The contract for design services was awarded to Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineering Inc. of Knoxville. V&M will help with services ranging from deed research and field surveys to preliminary plans and construction estimates.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said V&M has helped with the redevelopment of Gay Street in Knoxville.

The work is part of a project funded with help from a Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was announced by Gov. Bill Haslam in Jackson Square in June 2012.

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Council accepts $480,000 grant for railway museum at K-25

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Southern Appalachia Railway Museum Building

A plan for the proposed Southern Appalachia Railway Museum at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site. (Submitted image)

Although they had concerns about potential worst-case scenarios, Oak Ridge City Council members on Monday unanimously agreed to accept a state grant worth up to $480,000 for construction of a railway museum at Heritage Center, a project first proposed more than a decade ago.

By approving the resolution, Council also authorized the city to enter into a construction management agreement with the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee and Heritage Center LLC. That agreement calls for CROET and Heritage to offer the 20 percent local match required under the grant, or $120,000, as well as associated construction management services.

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Following business backlash, city schedules public hearing on signs

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Changes to the city’s electronic sign ordinance that were proposed late last year were publicly opposed by several business owners, and they ended up being pulled from a December meeting of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.

Now, the city has scheduled a public hearing on the existing sign regulations, which were adopted in 2003, a city press release said.

The changes proposed last year would have governed message display times and brightness of electronic signs. They would have required that electronic sign messages be static and shown for at least 10 seconds, and they would have set a maximum light intensity for the signs. The city staff said drivers and residents have complained about the electronic reader board signs.

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Secret City Festival applications now available online

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World War II Re-enactment

The Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge includes one of the largest World War II re-enactments in the South.

Preparations for the 11th Annual Secret City Festival are under way, and applications are now available online.

Vendors and exhibitors can visit www.SecretCityFestival.com and download an application to become involved in this year’s event, which will take place June 21-22 at A.K. Bissell Park.

Applications are available for arts and crafts, exhibitors, and food vendors.

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Radio Systems Corp. donates $100,000 to help build Oak Ridge dog park

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Oak Ridge Dog Park Layout Draft

Oak Ridge Dog Park Layout Draft (Image submitted by city staff)

Radio Systems Corp. has agreed to give Oak Ridge $100,000 through Legacy Parks to help build a dog park, a Friday afternoon press release said.

“At Radio Systems, we are always looking for ways we can give back to our community,” said Randy Boyd, founder and chief executive officer of Radio Systems Corp., maker of the PetSafe Brand. “We’ve seen the incredibly positive impact dog parks have made on communities, and we are excited to continue this effort in East Tennessee. We know Oak Ridgers and their dogs will enjoy a PetSafe dog park.”

The press release said PetSafe will partner with Oak Ridge to build the dog park within Big Turtle Park on the west end of the city.

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Council considers first phase of $1 million Jackson Square redevelopment

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Jackson Square Revitalization

A concept plan by Benefield Richters of Knoxville for the $1 million revitalization of historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge City Council members on Monday will consider awarding a $150,000 contract to a company that could help in the first phase of a $1 million project to redevelop Jackson Square, the city’s original town center.

The contract for design services could be awarded to Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineering Inc. of Knoxville. V&M could help with services ranging from deed research and field surveys to preliminary plans and construction estimates.

The work is part of a project funded with help from a Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was announced by Gov. Bill Haslam in Jackson Square in June 2012.

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Gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive closed for repairs Wednesday-Friday

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department plans to repair the gravel portion of Tuskegee Drive from Wednesday through Friday.

The work is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and end at 3:30 pm. Detours will be clearly marked for residents, a press release said.

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City Council to discuss electronic signs, economic development

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Rivers Total Car Care Electronic Sign

Business owners with electronic signs, including Toney Stevens of Rivers Total Car Care in Oak Ridge, objected to a letter they received in December asking them to fix sign ordinance code violations. Since then, the violation notices have been canceled, and the Oak Ridge City Council will discuss the electronic sign ordinance in a work session tonight.

The Oak Ridge City Council will review the city’s electronic reader board sign ordinance during a work session at 7 p.m. today.

The meeting will also include a presentation and report on the city’s economic development programs and possible changes in how the city supports new jobs and companies, improves retail opportunities, and enhances housing improvements.

Changes to the city’s electronic sign ordinance were proposed late last year, but they were pulled from a December meeting of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission agenda after a backlash from business owners.

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Aldi could open at Woodland Town Center in September

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Aldi Site at Woodland Town Center

The property at Woodland Town Center where an Aldi grocery store could open by September near Panera Bread and Aubrey’s between South Illinois and South Purdue avenues.

The new grocery store that could open on South Illinois Avenue by September could be an Aldi, a developer said Friday.

The 15,800-square-foot store would be on 1.6 acres at Woodland Town Center, where the new Aubrey’s and relocated Panera Bread opened in October. It would be across from those two restaurants, on the other side of a new roadway called Woodland Terrace East.

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City offices close, crews treat roads, up to 1/2 inch of ice possible

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Ice on Car

Ice coats a car in Oak Ridge on Friday. The National Weather Service in Morristown said there could be a total of 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice in areas subjected to several hours of freezing rain.

Oak Ridge municipal offices were originally scheduled to open at noon today, but they will remain closed all day, a city official said.

City workers urged residents to avoid driving, or even walking outside, if possible. A sheet of ice has coated many homes, driveways, and sidewalks.

With government offices, schools, and many businesses closed or opening late, some roads appeared deserted. Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Robin Smith said a few vehicles have slid off roads, but not much else has happened.

“It’s been very quiet, which is the way we like it,” Smith said. “It’s been good so far.”

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said the city spent about 12 hours Thursday treating about 100 miles of streets. Workers used two trucks to spread a brine solution, a “super salty” liquid.

“Every road we pre-treated with brine is in really good shape,” Cinder said. “It’s wet. It’s passable.”

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Former City Council member Pat Rush dies

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Patricia "Pat" Lewis Paynter Rush

Patricia “Pat” Lewis Paynter Rush

Former Oak Ridge City Council member Patricia “Pat” Lewis Paynter Rush died Wednesday at Methodist Medical Center after a short illness. She was 82.

Rush was elected to City Council in 1987 and served for 14 years. She was also a former board member of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association and president of the local Altrusa International organization in 1984 and 1985. She had also been a member of many organizations and boards, and was known for her service in many civic endeavors, her obituary said.

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Oak Ridge city offices open late, Y-12 access restricted Friday

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Winter Storm WatchOak Ridge municipal offices will open at noon Friday and access to the Y-12 National Security Complex will be restricted to essential employees due to the wintry, icy weather that is forecast to begin tonight in the southern Appalachians.

A winter storm watch is in effect through Friday evening across the region, including in Anderson and Roane counties, and the National Weather Service in Morristown said significant icing is possible across the East Tennessee Valley.

In a press release Thursday, the city of Oak Ridge said it is preparing for possible disruptions to city services, including widespread and extended power outages.

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